Decrying the Republican plan to cut education funding by 20 per cent, President Barack Obama today highlighted the need for quality education in the US in order to compete with countries like India and China.
Acknowledging that the country is facing tough budgetary challenges, Obama said he is not willing to compromise with children’s education as America has to be number one.
“Nothing would be more detrimental to our prospects for success than cutting back on education. It would consign America to second place in our fiercely competitive global economy. But China and India aren’t playing for second. South Korea and Germany aren’t playing for second. They’re playing for first – and so should America,” Obama said in his weekly radio address to the nation.
“Instead of being shortsighted and shortchanging our kids, we should be doubling down on them. We should be giving every child in America a chance to make the most of their lives; to fulfil their God-given potential. We should be fighting to lead the global economy in this century, just like we did in the last. And that’s what I’ll continue fighting to do in the months and years ahead,” Obama said.
From the start of the administration in January 2009, it has been fighting to offer every child in this country world-class education — from the cradle to the classroom, from college through a career, he said.